Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 29) – A bill has been filed at the House of Representatives seeking to suspend excise tax hikes on fuel products amid the current increases in oil prices.
Deputy Speaker and Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez on Friday filed House Bill 10246, which pushes for a four-year suspension of excise tax increases on gasoline, diesel, and other fuel products.
The period of suspension is from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2025, as stipulated in Republic Act 10963, or the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.
Rodriguez said once the adjustments are suspended under the proposed measure, taxes on regular gasoline and unleaded gasoline would drop to ₱4.35 per liter and ₱5.35 per liter, respectively.
Taxes will not be imposed on diesel, kerosene, and liquefied petroleum gas, according to the bill.
“One way to help the Filipino people is to temporarily suspend the collection of the increase in excise taxes on oil products imposed under the TRAIN Law until the country has fully recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic,” Rodriguez said.
Excise tax on gasoline is currently at ₱10 per liter, ₱6 per liter for diesel, and ₱5 per liter for kerosene.
The filing of the bill comes after several lawmakers called for the temporary suspension of excise tax on fuel products to help public utility drivers cope with the price increases.
The government recently revived the Pantawid Pasada Program – releasing ₱1 billion in financial assistance for jeepney drivers affected by the oil price hikes.
The Department of Finance has opposed plans to suspend the oil excise tax, saying it will be “detrimental” to the country’s economic recovery.
Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi has also appealed to lawmakers to give his department the power to suspend the oil excise tax.
